What is emergency first aid at work?

Many people would not know what to do if someone required emergency attention in the workplace, such as choking, allergic reaction, burn or scald, heart attack, wounds and bleeding.

According to the Labour Force Survey, 441,000 working people sustained an injury at work in 2020/21 (Health and Safety Executive, 2022). Would you know what to do? Not all work environments have a first aid kit at hand or the correct contents.

This article will identify common misconceptions about emergency first aid in the workplace.

What is ‘emergency first aid at work’?

Emergency first aid at work is the first and immediate assistance given to any person suffering from a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or promote recovery.

Emergency workplace first aid aims to ensure that casualties receive the assistance they require in the critical minutes before emergency services arrive. Emergency first aid training guarantees that first responders have the information and skills necessary to give this assistance.

Who needs emergency first aid at work training?

Emergency first aid at work training is suitable for employees in most sectors, including:

• Managers
• Supervisors 
• Employees 
• Volunteer staff.

What is covered in emergency first aid at work courses?

All incidents are covered in emergency first aid at work courses, from minor injuries to life-threatening situations, including:

• Roles and responsibilities of a first aider
• Contents of a first aid kit
• Primary and secondary survey
• Emergency life-saving procedures
• Blood loss and wound management
• Minor injuries and trauma
• Medical emergencies.

How is emergency first aid at work training delivered?

There are many different ways to deliver emergency first aid at work training, including:

• E-learning (online courses)
• Online webinars
• Classroom learning
• Video link learning
• Online blended learning (combination of eLearning and classroom assessments).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most training providers have adapted their emergency first aid at work training courses to ensure safety. Ofqual, who regulates first aid qualifications in England, recommended that training providers use blended learning, whereby learners complete their theory training online, then practical assessment via video link or recorded videos of learners completing the practical aspects, for example, primary survey or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

How is emergency first aid training accredited and certified?

Basic emergency first aid awareness courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Services (CPDUK). Ofqual approves emergency first aid at work course syllabus through awarding bodies, such as Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), NOCN and Qualsafe.

Emergency first aid at work certification must be renewed annually. In the third year, learners must attend the full-day course to meet the current regulatory requirements for first aid training.

Why is emergency first aid at work training important?

The importance of emergency first aid at work cannot be understated. Emergency first aid training courses teach learners to be more safety-conscious, which helps prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.

Employees becoming more aware of safe practices is the key to lowering risk and reducing occurrences.

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